GS500E - Won't Run!

[Kijona]

I know I posted about this in another thread but I kinda want a more in-depth answer about it.

1998 GS500E. 11k on the clock. Been sitting for a while in a heated/cooled garage. Clean as a whistle. Not a speck of anything on her.

Owner says last time she rode it it was really hot out and the bike would not run without the choke completely on.

Now, after sitting since for about 6 more months, the issue has worsened. It'll start up and idle at 3K all day with the choke on. Sounds amazing with just the right amount of valve noise and everything is good.

The moment you touch the throttle it dies. If you let it go quickly enough it'll go back to idling at 3K. Turn the choke off and it'll immediately die. So, obviously, this is a fuel starvation issue.

So, either the filter is clogged (inside of the tank looks relatively clean though), or it's got some funky gas in it or HAD bad gas in it?

Main jets gummed up? Diaphragms busted? Chunk of shaZam! stuck in one of the jets? Float stuck maybe?

Just gimme a hand here guys. Questions? Ideas? Thanks!

[beRto]

Since the bike has been sitting awhile, it's most likely the carbs just need a good cleaning. It's not a complicated process; you just need a little patience and some attention to detail.

[Big Rich]

Kijona, since you started a new thread I can't remember - did you clean out the carbs yet?

[Kijona]

Kijona, since you started a new thread I can't remember - did you clean out the carbs yet?

Not yet man. I was just trying to hone in on what it might be before hand. In fact, I don't have the bike yet! Haha. It just seems like a very specific problem with specific symptoms that somebody might be able to diagnose directly.

[BaltimoreGS]

Bike sat, gasoline turned to crap, carbs got clogged, carbs need cleaned; don't know how much more specific we can get....   

-Jessie

[Paulcet]

I don't think it's that specific. It is likely just clogged jets and/or emulsion tube.

Buying a used bike is a gamble.  One that doesn't run, moreso.

[craigs449]

Another vote for clogged/gummed carbs.  Can't go wrong pulling them off and giving them a good cleaning.  Be sure to note the jet sizes while you have it apart.

[Kijona]

Another vote for clogged/gummed carbs.  Can't go wrong pulling them off and giving them a good cleaning.  Be sure to note the jet sizes while you have it apart.

Will do

[ninja_steve]

Go buy a .09 guitar string and get to cleaning those jets.  make sure the floats aren't stuck as well.

[Kijona]

No offense but to hell with that crap. I'd rather use fishing line, that way I know I won't be ruining a perfectly good, if a little dirty, set of jets.

[BaltimoreGS]

Go buy a .09 guitar string and get to cleaning those jets.  make sure the floats aren't stuck as well.

No offense but to hell with that crap. I'd rather use fishing line, that way I know I won't be ruining a perfectly good, if a little dirty, set of jets.

Guitar string is actually an old school way of cleaning clogged up jets   Works great 

-Jessie

[Kijona]

No offense but to hell with that crap. I'd rather use fishing line, that way I know I won't be ruining a perfectly good, if a little dirty, set of jets.

If the floats were stuck it would eventually stop idling, right?

[Kijona]

Not that I am not going to check that stuff. I was just asking.

[Kijona]

Well, here's a picture of her:



Can't help but smile when I look at how beautiful she is. In better shape than my '07 with arguably better looks.

[BaltimoreGS]

Clean looking bike!   

-Jessie